{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-308.5_1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-308.5_1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-308.5_1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-308.5_1.html"}],"law_id":76780,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76780,"structure_id":13912,"section_number":"18.2-308.5:1","catch_line":"Manufacture, importation, sale, possession, transfer, or transportation of auto sears and trigger activators prohibited; penalty","history":"2020, c. 527; 2024, cc. 163, 164.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Auto sear” means a device, other than a trigger activator, designed for use in converting a semi-automatic firearm to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.\n\t\t\t“Trigger activator” means a device designed to allow a semi-automatic firearm to shoot more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger by harnessing the recoil energy of any semi-automatic firearm to which it is affixed so that the trigger resets and continues firing without additional physical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter.B\n\nIt is unlawful for any person to manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, possess, transfer, or transport an auto sear or a trigger activator in the Commonwealth.C\n\nA violation of this section is punishable as a Class 6 felony.D\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person from manufacturing, importing, selling, offering for sale, possessing, receiving, transferring, or transporting any item for which such person is in compliance with the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. § 5801 et seq.).","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":275700,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Auto sear” means a device, other than a trigger activator, designed for use in converting a semi-automatic firearm to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.\n\t\t\t“Trigger activator” means a device designed to allow a semi-automatic firearm to shoot more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger by harnessing the recoil energy of any semi-automatic firearm to which it is affixed so that the trigger resets and continues firing without additional physical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":275701,"text":"It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, possess, transfer, or transport an auto sear or a trigger activator in the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":275702,"text":"A violation of this section is punishable as a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":275703,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person from manufacturing, importing, selling, offering for sale, possessing, receiving, transferring, or transporting any item for which such person is in compliance with the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. § 5801 et seq.).","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13912,"edition_id":1,"name":"Other Illegal Weapons","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12973,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:16","permalink":{"id":167193,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13912,"identifier":"7","token":"18.2\/7\/7","url":"\/18.2\/7\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12973,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Health and Safety","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":166501,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12973,"identifier":"7","token":"18.2\/7","url":"\/18.2\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":58832,"structure_id":13912,"section_number":"18.2-308.1","catch_line":"Possession of firearm, stun weapon, or other weapon on school property prohibited; 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selling, giving, etc., or possessing firearm without serial number; penalties","url":"\/18.2-311.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/7\/18.2-311.1","metadata":false},{"id":70367,"structure_id":13912,"section_number":"18.2-311.2","catch_line":"Third conviction of firearm offenses; penalty","url":"\/18.2-311.2\/","token":"18.2\/7\/7\/18.2-311.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59300,"structure_id":13912,"section_number":"18.2-308.5","catch_line":"Manufacture, import, sale, transfer or possession of plastic firearm prohibited","url":"\/18.2-308.5\/","token":"18.2\/7\/7\/18.2-308.5","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68711,"structure_id":13912,"section_number":"18.2-308.6","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-308.6\/","token":"18.2\/7\/7\/18.2-308.6","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-308.5:1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 527<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2024, chapters 163<\/a> and 164<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75668,"section_number":"19.2-386.28","catch_line":"Forfeiture of weapons, etc., that are concealed, possessed, transported, or carried in violation of law","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-386.28\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":167271,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76780,"identifier":"18.2-308.5:1","token":"18.2\/7\/7\/18.2-308.5_1","url":"\/18.2-308.5_1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-308.5_1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/7\/18.2-308.5_1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Manufacture, importation, sale, possession, transfer, or transportation of auto sears and trigger activators prohibited; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-308.5:1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Auto sear<\/span>” means a device, other than a trigger activator<\/span>, designed for use in converting a semi-automatic firearm to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.\n\t\t\t“Trigger activator<\/span>” means a device designed to allow a semi-automatic firearm to shoot more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger by harnessing the recoil energy of any semi-automatic firearm to which it is affixed so that the trigger resets and continues firing without additional physical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, possess, transfer, or transport an auto sear<\/span> or a trigger activator<\/span> in the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A violation of this section is punishable as a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person from manufacturing, importing, selling, offering for sale, possessing, receiving, transferring, or transporting any item for which such person is in compliance with the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. § 5801 et seq.). <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMANUFACTURE, IMPORTATION, SALE, POSSESSION, TRANSFER, OR TRANSPORTATION OF AUTO\nSEARS AND TRIGGER ACTIVATORS PROHIBITED; PENALTY (\u00a7 18.2-308.5:1)\n\nA. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Auto sear” means a device, other than a trigger activator,\ndesigned for use in converting a semi-automatic firearm to shoot automatically\nmore than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the\ntrigger.\n\t\t\t“Trigger activator” means a device designed to allow a\nsemi-automatic firearm to shoot more than one shot with a single pull of the\ntrigger by harnessing the recoil energy of any semi-automatic firearm to which\nit is affixed so that the trigger resets and continues firing without additional\nphysical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter.\n\nB. It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale,\npossess, transfer, or transport an auto sear or a trigger activator in the\nCommonwealth.\n\nC. A violation of this section is punishable as a Class 6 felony.\n\nD. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person from\nmanufacturing, importing, selling, offering for sale, possessing, receiving,\ntransferring, or transporting any item for which such person is in compliance\nwith the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. § 5801 et seq.).\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 527; 2024, cc. 163, 164.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}